Are you being severed, er, served? Decapitated heads (fake, of course) are part of the mayhem in the horror play.

Image 1 of 12 - Grand Guignol

Are you being severed, er, served? Decapitated heads (fake, of course) are part of the mayhem in the horror play.

Are you being severed, er, served? Decapitated heads (fake, of course)...are part of the mayhem in the horror play.

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Carolyne Zinko / The Chronicle

Gore (theatrical, as worn by actors in this still shot) will be part of the thrill at the horror play, "Grand Guignol," Oct. 30-Nov. 3 in San Francisco.

Image 2 of 12 - Grand Guignol

Gore (theatrical, as worn by actors in this still shot) will be part of the thrill at the horror play, "Grand Guignol," Oct. 30-Nov. 3 in San Francisco.

Gore (theatrical, as worn by actors in this still shot) will be part...of the thrill at the horror play, "Grand Guignol," Oct. 30-Nov. 3 in...San Francisco.

Image 3 of 12|Grand Guignol

Carolyne Zinko / The Chronicle

"Grand Guignol" director Mitchell Altieri, and lighting chief Pamela Z. Gray, at the Friday the 13th launch party at the Inner Mission event space for the "Grand Guignol"horror play in SF this Halloween.

Image 3 of 12 - Grand Guignol

"Grand Guignol" director Mitchell Altieri, and lighting chief Pamela Z. Gray, at the Friday the 13th launch party at the Inner Mission event space for the "Grand Guignol"horror play in SF this Halloween.

"Grand Guignol" director Mitchell Altieri, and lighting chief Pamela...Z. Gray, at the Friday the 13th launch party at the Inner Mission...event space for the "Grand Guignol"horror play in SF this Halloween.

Examples of the sort of makeup that actors will wear at the "Grand Guignol" horror play coming to SF.

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Examples of the sort of makeup that actors will wear at the "Grand Guignol" horror play coming to SF.

Examples of the sort of makeup that actors will wear at the "Grand...Guignol" horror play coming to SF.

Image 6 of 12|Grand Guignol

Carolyne Zinko / The Chronicle

At the party, storyboards told part of the story of the "Grand Guignol." One of the actors in the play will have their face "burned" during the play, which producers say should scare the daylights out of the audience.

Image 6 of 12 - Grand Guignol

At the party, storyboards told part of the story of the "Grand Guignol." One of the actors in the play will have their face "burned" during the play, which producers say should scare the daylights out of the audience.

At the party, storyboards told part of the story of the "Grand...Guignol." One of the actors in the play will have their face "burned"...during the play, which producers say should scare the daylights out...of the audience.

Image 7 of 12|Grand Guignol

Carolyne Zinko / The Chronicle

Snacks, anyone? Just kidding. Examples of theatrical gore were on display at the Friday the 13th launch party for the "Grand Guignol."

Image 7 of 12 - Grand Guignol

Snacks, anyone? Just kidding. Examples of theatrical gore were on display at the Friday the 13th launch party for the "Grand Guignol."

Snacks, anyone? Just kidding. Examples of theatrical gore were on...display at the Friday the 13th launch party for the "Grand Guignol."

Image 8 of 12|Grand Guignol

Carolyne Zinko / The Chronicle

Two actors in costumes that will be worn during the play. Organizers hope the audience will come dressed in costumes, to add to the fun of the evening.

Image 8 of 12 - Grand Guignol

Two actors in costumes that will be worn during the play. Organizers hope the audience will come dressed in costumes, to add to the fun of the evening.

Two actors in costumes that will be worn during the play. Organizers...hope the audience will come dressed in costumes, to add to the fun of...the evening.

Image 9 of 12|Grand Guignol

Carolyne Zinko / The Chronicle

What's a play set in Paris in 1903 without a little atmospheric music of the time period?

Image 9 of 12 - Grand Guignol

What's a play set in Paris in 1903 without a little atmospheric music of the time period?

What's a play set in Paris in 1903 without a little atmospheric music...of the time period?

Image 10 of 12|Grand Guignol

Carolyne Zinko / The Chronicle

The launch party for the Grand Guignol had a bloody good atmosphere.

Image 10 of 12 - Grand Guignol

The launch party for the Grand Guignol had a bloody good atmosphere.

The launch party for the Grand Guignol had a bloody good atmosphere.

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Carolyne Zinko / The Chronicle

Wine and French snacks were served up at the launch at the Inner Mission event space for the Grand Guignol horror play.

Image 11 of 12 - Grand Guignol

Wine and French snacks were served up at the launch at the Inner Mission event space for the Grand Guignol horror play.

Wine and French snacks were served up at the launch at the Inner...Mission event space for the Grand Guignol horror play.

Image 12 of 12|Grand Guignol

Carolyne Zinko / The Chronicle

The launch party for the Grand Guignol horror play included a reading by the cast.

Image 12 of 12 - Grand Guignol

The launch party for the Grand Guignol horror play included a reading by the cast.

The launch party for the Grand Guignol horror play included a reading...by the cast.

It was Friday the 13th, and film director Mitchell Altieri was unyielding in his opinion, despite one scaredy-cat’s arguments to the contrary.

“People love being scared,” he said. “It’s one of the best forms of storytelling.”

Antieri was at the Inner Mission event space on Bryant Street for the launch party for the upcoming North American premiere of the “Grand Guignol” in San Francisco, which should prove to be an intimately gory experience, as well as a chance for San Franciscans, who love to dress up (or undress) for almost any occasion, to attend in turn-of-the-century showgirl costumes, or even Jack-the-Ripper attire.

The theatrical horror play will run at Z Space (450 Florida St.) from Oct. 30-Nov.3, and if the launch party on Friday was any indication, audience members are going to have the s— scared out of them, whether they sit in the “splatter zone” or the VIP “shock boxes.”

All one had to do was look at the photographs on the walls — pictures of actors in bloody makeup — to get an inkling.

“People like to be uncomfortable, to squirm a bit,” said Charlie Smith, a co-producer of the show.

Written by Carl Grose, and directed by filmmaker Mitchell Altieri (“Lurking in Suburbia,” “The Violent Kind”), the play was influenced by the Theatre du Grand Guignol and horror stage shows that were popular in London and Paris in the early 1900s. The play, set in 1903 Paris, takes place in the back streets of Montmarte and features a serial killer and the search for his influences.

Sets are by Charlie Smith, costumes by Beaver Bauer, lighting by Pamela Z. Gray and hair and makeup by Shae Smoot.

Theatergoers are encouraged to get into the act by dressing in the spirit of the play.

“Anything goes,” Smith said. “We want people to have a good time. Going to the theater should feel like a party. They could wear a steam punk, hip hodgepodge, in the best sent of the phrase.”

Given San Francisans’ appetite for costumed events, from Burning Man to the Edwardian Ball to the old Castro Halloween party, we have no doubt the invitation will be embraced.

Performances Oct. 30-Nov 2 at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. An Oct. 31 Halloween package includes an after-party at Inner Mission, 2050 Bryant St. Tickets run $15-$195 and are available starting Oct. 1 at www.grandguignolsf.com.